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Monday, March 31, 2014

InspirationFX: Copper Spiral Bracelet



InspirationFX
Get your creative juices flowing

Copper Spiral Bracelet
by: Kelly Garland
Simply stack the beads on an eye pin and create a loop to finish off each section. Connect with a single copper jump ring. 
 
Add the toggle clasp with jumprings.
For extra durability and security - ensure your jump rings are worked to hardness so they do not open with pressure. Copper is a soft metal, and you don't want to lose your creation! 

Working metal to hardness happens naturally with any manipulation of the metal but of course, you don't want to leave marks or distort your jump rings. I like to use nylon jaw pliers and simply squeeze firmly several times over to harden (stiffen) the copper. 

I've also added a wee drop of E6000 to each eye loop at the connection point for added security. (Alternately - you can use wire and make a "wrapped loop" on each side.)
Happy Creating!

















 

Components

Go to our components list for this project and to buy what you need!
Need some help with some of the techniques? Check our tips page.

Sunday, March 30, 2014

InspirationFX: Rose Gold Sparkle Collar



InspirationFX
Get your creative juices flowing


Rose Gold Sparkle Collar
by: Pam Kearns
l love the combination of the gold/pink/bronze and pulled together these beads to create a collar that is meant to sit at the base of the neck. Rich without being gaudy!

It is a simple stringing project using beading wire. To get the triangles, take the beading wire around and again through the first bead in the triangle. The bicones help to hide some of the wire being used, as do the drops at the outside point of the triangle. I suggest working from the spool so that you don't cut the line too short.

Try and keep the wire from twisting - that will help to keep the triangles lying flat.


















Components

Go to our components list for this project and to buy what you need!
Need some help with some of the techniques? Check our tips page.

Saturday, March 29, 2014

The Business Chat - ARGH, rejection


It arrives. 

The envelope.

From the show you applied to. 

You hold it, wondering, am I in or am I out? Do they want me?

With bated breath you open it….

“Dear applicant,
We regret to inform you…”

Damn. Crap. Argh. You’ve been rejected.

Don’t feel bad, we’ve all been there and still are there sometimes. You might assume that as a professional crafter with 11 years’ experience and hundreds of craft shows on my resume that I’m in a show automatically. But no, there is no guarantee. I’m sitting here waiting to hear from two new shows that I’ve applied to, my fingers are crossed. Even some shows that I have done for years may reject me. 

There are a variety of reasons that lead to a rejection. The most common reason is that your category is full. Within each category there are also sub-categories. An example is the jewelry category, the first to always fill up. If a show has 20 spots for jewelry, you don’t want all the jewelry to be the same. The organizer might allow 3 lampwork artists, 4 silversmiths, 4 goldsmiths, 3 fiber or leather jewellers, and 6 assemblers. The organizers will also look at price points ensuring that there are a variety of choices for customers.
Returning vendors are usually given priority as well, meaning that even if your category has 20 spots, there may only be 3 or 4 available to new vendors. 

The second most common reason for rejection is that your photos or your application sucks. Your application is the only thing an organizer has to judge you upon. Do you look like a professional? Remember, the organizer is in the business of selling space and ensuring that the customer has a good shopping experience. They need to know that you are going to show up, have a nice booth, and make decent work that is appropriate for the show. Make sure your application looks as professional as possible. Spell check. Your photos must be the best that you can get. In these days of cheap digital cameras there is no excuse for bad photos. Spend some quality time getting to know your camera and practising. Photography is a skill and can be the difference in getting into a show or not. If an organizer tells you that your photos were not great, then spend the next year making them great. 

You could also be rejected because your work isn’t appropriate for the show. If you make lower priced work and you’ve applied to a higher end show it isn’t going to work. Trust the organizers judgement on this.
Here’s a couple of suggestions for you if you get a rejection notice.

First, call the organizer and ask why you were rejected. Ask what you can do to improve your chances to get into the show next year. Not only will this provide you with constructive criticism but you will have shown the organizer that you are serious enough about your business to improve it. It’s a great way to begin a relationship with the organizer.  

Second, check the cancellation date. This is usually listed on the application (and you made note of it then, right?) Life happens and someone is bound to cancel from the show. Don’t call on the cancellation date, call the organizer the day after. Although the organizer will have a list of alternative vendors, if you take the initiative and call before they have to go searching for someone you just might get in. 

I do know of some vendors who just show up on the day of the show and hope there will be an empty space. Believe it or not, sometimes vendors who have paid for a show do not show up. This is a bit of a gamble and I can’t say that I’ve done it, however it has worked for people I know.

If these suggestions don’t get you into the show then the best thing you can do is shrug it off. They rejected your presence at the show, not you. Go to the show as a shopper and take a look around. Picture yourself there as a vendor, now go home, make new work, take new photos and try another show.

Friday, March 28, 2014

On Sale This Week!

On Sale
this
Week

25% off

Stone Beads


30% off
Metal Spacers
(Daisy and
otherwise)
Copper

Gold & Brass

Silver

Gunmetal

 

30% off

Nosy Posy
Links &
Earring
Components


Sale starts on Wed Midnight.
and ends on Wed midnight.
Items held in shopping cart
will change price automatically at
midnight.

Thursday, March 27, 2014

No Stamping on the Dragon Toes

For thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup.
s38673 Glass -  Dragons Claws - Matte Hot Chili Pepper (25)We just can't emphasize enough, what a bad idea stamping on dragon toes would be. Mostly s38677 Glass -  Dragon Toes - Lapis Blue (30)because our dragon toes are made of glass - and it would get crunchy indeed, pretty fast.
Aren't these just the coolest? The dragon Claws are a little pointier, and the dragon Toes are a little more rounded at the end.
s38671 Pressed Glass - 13 x 18 mm Phases of the Moon Oval - Toasted Nut (10)Someone has, however, been stamping on the glass, and we do have some very nice pressed glass s38664 Pressed Glass - 20 mm Flame Coins - Old Lava (1)with patterns pressed into the glass - when it is still hot and molten. We have these 3 dot phases of the moon (looks more like traffic light to me!) shape, and a wild and funky flame-lke pattern, and these yummy dragonfly coins, and these fun flower starburst beads! They are all collected here on our Carved Glass page.
s38659 Flat Cut Tablet - 11 x 14 mm Starburst Oval - Blue Epoch (10)
s38666 Pressed Glass - 23 mm Dragonfly Coin - Green Grape Mist (1)













Lots of fun new glass beads this week - but I also want to show you that if you are determined to go stamping around on something - how about some metal stamps?

s39267 ImpressArt Stamps - 4 mm Stamp/Punch Collection - Jeanie - UPPERCASE Letters (Set)We've brought in a new line of stamps from ImpressArt. These are top quality steel stamps, in a nice case with a clear top for easy viewing and the letter that is on the stamp on the side as well - so you s39278 ImpressArt Stamps - 6 mm Design Stamp/Punch - Paw Print (1)know what you have picked up and which way to hold it! We have some fun new fonts, number series as well - and some other fun embellishments.








s38791 Stone Beads - 5 x 7 mm Tumbled Nuggets - Garnet (strand)Wow - so much new good stuff this week! Garnet - if you love this sultry red stone with it's slightly metallic lustre - we have a bunch of it that we scooped in Tucson (we just don't see nice garnet from suppliers up here.) This stone is rich and dark and looks killer with black or gunmetal for a totally kick-butt goth look. Garnet was big in Victorian and Bohemian jewelry too.






 
s38801 Glass Beads - 5 x 16 mm Thorns - Cobalt (strand 25)
And - around and back to the glass beads for a moment, if I may - these are another new shape - these are Thorns - more rounded than dagger beads. These are from Preciosa-Ornela and they have some fun patterns for using them.



 



s38814 Metallic Hematite - 4 mm Square Washer - Matte Metallic Purple IrisSo much good stuff - I'm sure you're TL; DR by now - but check these out, Square Washers - 4 mm square - made of metallic Hematite! I think these would look awesome integrated into a bead weaving project!


Ok - I'll shut up now so you can go check it all out! As always - you can click on a link or image above, or get started with all the new items here. Happy Shopping!

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

One day left! On sale till Wednesday midnight!


WireLace

s28362 Stringing - 1 mm Wire Lace Ribbon - Dusty Rose (Yard)

WireLuxe

s35264 Woven Wire - 20 mm WireLuxe Wire Ribbon - Champagne (9 inches)

SilverSilk

s28729 Silver Silk - Knitted Wire -  3-Needle Round - Silver (1 foot)

25% off


Sale starts on Wed Midnight.
and ends on Wed midnight.
Items held in shopping cart
will change price automatically at
midnight.

April Classes are Just Around the Corner!

"April Showers bring May Flowers." Hey, I'll take the rain as long as the snow stays away!

We can't control the weather but we can get together and enjoy some classes. Ushering in the month are some new projects that are perfect for Spring as well as repeats of some popular classes.

Congratulations to BeadFX instructor Liz Reynolds who has just received her Hadar Clay Instructor Accreditation!


The following classes are scheduled from April 1 to April 15:

Thursday, April 3
NEW Spring Flowers Flat Spiral Bracelet
Instructor: Pamela Kearns
6:00 - 9:00pm




Friday, April 4 
Zig Zag Diamond Bracelet
Instructor: Sureka Sriharan
12:30 - 3:30pm

NEW Mysterious Wire Beads Earrings or Pendant
Instructor: Gio Paz
4:30 - 8:00pm

Open Metal Studio: Metalwork
Facilitator: Cindy Goldrick
5:30 - 8:00pm





Saturday, April 5
NEW R.A.W. Immersion
Instructor: Roxann Blazetich-Ozols
10:00am - 5:00pm

NEW Hot Connections: Ring with Bezel Set Stone
Instructor: Iris Rogers Melamed
10:30am - 5:30pm



Sunday, April 6
NEW Evening Out 2 Necklace
Instructor: Rae Huggins
12:30 - 4:30pm

From Junk to Beads: Making Paper Beads
Instructor: Anne Marie Desaulniers
12:00 - 3:00pm




Tuesday, April 8
NEW Daisy Mosaics
Instructor: Maria Rypan
1:30 - 4:30pm

Double Strand Pearl Bracelet
Instructor: Rae Huggins
6:00 - 9:00pm



Thursday, April 10 
Wire Crochet Choker
Instructor: Stephanie Dixon
6:00 - 9:00pm 

Open Metal Studio: Soldering
Facilitator: Iris Rogers Melamed
6:00 - 9:00pm


 
Friday, April 11
Half-Hitch Bracelet
Instructor: Angela Peace
12:30 - 3:30pm

Introduction to Art Clay Silver
Instructor: Jenn Jevons
1:00 - 6:00pm

Peruvian Stitch Wire Pendant or Earrings
Instructor: Gio Paz
4:30 - 8:00pm





 

Saturday, April 12
Adjustable Sliding Cords
Instructor: Angela Peace
9:30am - 12:30pm

Felted Cuff Bracelet
Instructor: Dawn Liu-Smyth
10:30am - 2:30pm

 
Sunday, April 13
Getting Started with Hadar's Clay
Instructor: Liz Reynolds
12:00 - 4:00pm

Etching on Copper
Instructor: Rosemary Beasley
12:00 - 4:00pm



Tuesday, April 15
Intro to Chinese Knotting
Instructor: Angela Peace
12:30 - 3:30pm

Bring your beading projects and join us at our FREE open beading sessions:


Wednesday, April 2
Open Bead Night
Facilitator: Stephanie Dixon
6:00 - 8:00pm 
Thursday, April 3
Thursday, April 10
Afternoon Bead Tea
Facilitator: Pamela Kearns
1:00 - 3:00pm